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No. 537,261. Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

(No Model.) 9 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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F. R. AVERY, Administrator. PLANTER.

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F. R. AVERY, Administrator.

PLANTER. No. 537 261. Pgiptedpalw.

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(No Model.)- 9 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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F. R. AVERY, Administrator. PLANTBR.

No. 537,261. .Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

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Patented Apr. 9, 1895.

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R. AVERY, 'DGOLv F. R. AVERY, Administrator. PLANTER.

No. 537,261. Patent-empf. 9,1895.

-Jilorueys UNITED STATES VAKFENT OFFICE.

ROBERT II. AVERY, OE PEORIA, ILLINOIS; EREDERIO R. AVERY ADMINIS-TRATOROE SAID ROBERT II. AVERY, DEoEAsED.

lSPECIFICATION' forming part of 12A-:titersI Patent No. 537,261, dated.April 9, 1895. f

Application filed April 23, 1899. g Serial No. 349,135. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. AVERY, aV citizen ofthe United States,residing at Peoria, inthe county of Peoria and State of Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Planters, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being vhad therein to theaccompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a machine em- Io bodying my improvements.Fig. 2 is a detail showing the wheel 34 and lever for moving it. Fig. 3is a side view one wheel being removed. Fig. 3a is a section on linex-a; Fig. 3. Fig. 4 is a horizontalsection through one of the I5 seedboxes at line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isla plan of the botttoln plate inthe seed box, and the horizontal agitators. Fig. 6 is a bottom view ofthis plate. Fig. 7 is a section at line 7-7 of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is. a planof a cotton 2o dropping plate. Fig. 9 is a planA of a 'dropping platefor check-rowing. Fig.j10 is a plan of avdropper mechanism the hopperbottom being removed; Fig. 11 ,shows the same except that the droppingdisk is removed. Fig.

12 is a section at 1ine.12-12 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12u is a section at line00L-x2 Fig. 1. Fig. 13 shows tho stop block for the spring frame.. Fig.14 shows aportion of the spring and other parts which adjust thepressure of the cover- 3o ing wheel.

or holder. Fig. 16 is a side View of the said guide, or holder. Fig. 17shows the device for attaching the lever which lifts the runners.' Fig.17a is across section on the line (tj-y of Fig. 17. Fig. 13 shows partof the frame, the tongue and the devices for lifting the runners. Figs.19 and 2O are respectively a side and top View of a covering wheel. Fig.21 isa section at line 21-21 of Fig..19. Fig. 22'is a 4o section onrline 22-22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 23 is a section on line 23--23 of Fig. 1.Fig. 23a is a partial vertical section of parts shown in Fig; 23. Fig.24 shows the clamp which joins the check-row devices with the shake bar.Fig. l

25 is a partial vertical section through the seed tube. Fig. 26 is arear elevation of the runner, the seed tube and parts attached. Figs.27, 2S and 29 are details enlarged of parts shown in Fig. 26. Fig. 30 isa plan view of 5o one form of seed dropper, or delivering device. Fig.31 is a section on the line .c-z Fig. 30.

Fig. 15 is a plan of the wire guide,

Fig. 32 is a partial edge viewof a right hand lower corner of Fig. 30.Fig. 33 is a similar view of the parts in the lower left hand cor- Y nerof Fig. 30. Fig.'34 is a top plan view of 55 the preferred pawl carrier.Fig. 35 is a side View of the same. Fig. 36 is a view from the 'oppositeside. Fig. 37 is a plan view of a modified bottom plate for the hopper.Fig. 38 is av section on theline orf-ac Fig. 37. Fig.

6o 39 shows anothervform of the dropper wheel. v

Fig. 40 is a section on line Lf-y Fig. 39.

Fig. 41 is a top view and an edge view of a pawl. Fig. 42 shows the pawlin place. Fig. 43 isa plan view of the bed plate, or base plate of theseeddropper. Fig. 44v is a side elevation looking from the left in Fig.43.

Fig. 45 is a section on line zz Fig. 43.

Fig. 46 is a side View looking from the right in Fig. 43. Fig. 47(Sheet 1) shows in side 'I View, the covering wheel and its support atthe right hand end of Fig. 1. Figs. 4S, 49, 50. and 51 (Sheet 6) showthe ball knot or joint for the check row wire and the manner ofattaching it. Fig. 52 (sheet 1) is a plan View showing the connectionsof the parts from one check rower to the other. Fig. 53 (Sheet 2) is aperspective of the scraper of the covering wheel. The main frame ofthemachine comprises the transverse bars A, A, A, the forwardlydiverging inclined bars B, B under those'at A and the forwardlyconverging brace bars D, D above those at A. This frame can be varied ascircumstances require. To it are ysecured the tongue C and the bar CwhichVY support the drivers seat.

E, E', are ground wheels supported as shown on hollow axles E2 which aresecured to the main frame.

F is a runner or furrow-opener which is secured to, or made with acasting G loosely connected at both ends with the machine so that therunner can be raised and lowered in parallelism. I The upper and forwardend of this casting'Gr is provided with a roller g which is located in aslottedY bracket H secured at h to the frame, and the rear end of thecasting Gis forked at g', g', with the ends of the fork lying by theside of the seed tube l. (See Figs. 3 and 22.) g

J, J are guides projecting upward from the ICO eat/,261

casting G and located in grooves provided in an extension on the forwardside of the seed tube.

J', J are extensions ofthe casting G for attaching the springs.

K is a brace, one end of which is connected with the frame at k and theother end is secured to the seed-tubecasting.

L is a rock-'shaft (see Figs. 1, 8, 17,17*,and 18) the outer end ofwhich is provided with a bent or crank arm 22 pivoted to the upper endof a link 3. The lower end of the link is pivoted to the casting G atg2. The other end, L2, of this rock-shaft is bent as shown in Fig. 17and is inserted in a casting M where it is held by a pin or bolt 25.(See Figs. 17, and 1W.) This rock'shaft L is supported in bearings 26and 27 which are securrd to the frame, Figs. 3 and 18.

2S is an arm on the casting M to which arm a leverN is secured.

29 is a casting orguide frame bolted to the tongue and frame barC. (SeeFigs. 1, 3, and 18.) The central portion of this casting is open orcutaway and between one side of this casting and the tongue there is anopen space or guide-way 30 for the lever N.

31 is a notch to hold the lever N in its forward position.

N2 is au adjustable holder with a notch n adapted to be clampedto thecasting 29. The notch n receives the lever in its rear position.

The driver, by means of the lever N can rock the coupling M and shaft Land thereby through link 23 raise or lower the runner F and when raisedout of the ground it can be held in that position by engaging the leverN with the notch 3l. Y

The guide H, its fastening bracket at h, the runner, and the partsconnected therewith, can be adjusted in and out along the frame bars A,A, there being a series of apertures at a, a', through each of the bars.'lo allow for such adjustment, the connection at M, between the lever Nand the rock-shaft L, can be fastened at one or the other of severalplaces, there being a series of apertures mm1, to receive the bolt 25.

24 is a movable block which lies against the under side of part M, andbolt 25 engages with it.

From the above it will be seen that each runner is provided with twoslide guides, one being near the rear end and on lilies adjacent to theseed passage, and the other being near the front end, and the two guidesbeing in parallelism, so that the runner can be lifted and depressed insuch a way as to maintain substantially the saine position as tohorizontal lines, or as to the seed passage. It will also be seen that Iapply the lifting mechanism to the runners at points between these frontand rear slide guides so that the weight shall be balanced, the pointsof connection being nearer the heel ends ofthe runners so that theheavier parts can be moved without cramping or binding. lleretofore thevertical adjustment of the runners, even where the attempt was made tomaintain them in parallelism,has been accomplished by a number of leversand links making the machine complex and with an undesirable number ofparts. In the present case a single link in combination with the twoslide guides is all that is required.

It will be understood that there are on each side of the machine a setof parts corresponding with those above described; that is to say, alifting lever, a rock-shaft, a runner and adjuncts; N', L', and Mrepresenting some of the same.

For the purpose of limiting the drawings I have shown in Fig. 1 twoarrangements of the seed delivering devices, that at the left having theparts attached for drilling and agitating, and that on the right forcheck rowing, having some of the parts removed; but it will beunderstood that the machines, as actually made, are or can be providedwith similar parts at both sides, which parts include or can include,those for planting corn, and those'for planting cot-ton, first, by hand;seeond, by drill mechanism, and, third, by checkrow mechanism anddevices adapted for planting sugar cane and other seeds.

I will first describe the parts ordinarily used in planting such seed ascorn.

O, O are the seed boxes or hoppers, snpported on the frame by castings32 bolted at ct', a

The casting 32 t'orms the bed plate or base plate. It has elevated parts01,5 and t, and depressed parts pand q. (See Figs. 10, 11, 30 and 43 to46.) On the part t the dropper disk or plate 39 is supported, therebeing a shaft or pintle for it at 3S. This bed plate also has a seedtube 108, an aperture at 109 with a square wall u, for the purpose to bedescribed.

A sliding pawl carrier is shown at 64, see Figs. 10,11, 30, 3l, 34, 35and 36, it having pawls and 66 pivoted to it. The ends of these pawlsrest upon the aforesaid elevated parts r, s, of the bed plate,and areadapted to engage with the teeth of toothed seed wheels, or droppingdisks. Two disks for this purpose are illustrated, one in Figs. 30, 3land 39, andthe otherin Fig. 9. The formeris adapted for intermittinglydropping by hand, and also cheek-rowing under some circumstances. Theother in Fig. 9 is particularly adapted for check-rowing devices such aswill be herein de.

scribed, and has a peculiarly formed seed aperture 63. Each oftheseapertures has a wide central partand narrow ends, said ends beingof the nature ot notches communicating with the central part. Thesenotches are adapted to receive the pointed ends of long kernels of corn.

The aperture can be made so that short or round kernels will passthrough the central part of the hole, one at a time; and at the sametime the long kernels will also pass through only one at a time, as thecentral part of the aperture will let the body of the roo Ixo

rzo

' nels could be accurately counted.

kernel drop and the notch (one or the other) will permit the point topass down. Thus I secure uniformity of delivery and regulate exactly thenumber of seeds which pass down in a given time, even though the seedsused be a mixture of long and short kernels. Heretofore there has notbeen, to my knowledge, a dropping disk devised by which the ker- I amaware of the fact that disks with large holes have been usedfordroppingat each delivery a larger number of seeds, interchangeably withdisks, having smaller holes for dropping smallery numbers; but suchdisks by no means accurately regulate the delivery.y

There is now demand for planters which will deliver ateach step one ortwo seeds.

, pawl carrier. 64 (through the pawls 65, 66),v

Vth the ordinary circular holes, two small kernels can pass where butone large one can, and therefore .the mere size of the holes cannot bedepended on to accurately count theA seeds. I accomplish this byprovidinga hole of such size that where it is desired to plant onekernel at a time, only one round or short kernel can enter it at thecenter, but so shape the aperture that, while being no wider, it iselongated so that a long kernel can pass into it.

If it is desired to plant two seeds at a time the central part of theaperture is made large enough to receive two short round ones, and it iselongated sufficiently to permit two long kernels to enter.

In Fig. 8, is shown a modified form of aperture 62 adapted for cottonseed it being oblong and tapering toward the inner end.

40 indicates the bottom plate of the seed recept-acle or hopper, havingapartial circular slot under which the aperturesof the said disk 39travel. It is held in place by the fastener at 41 and 42.

The dropping disks are actuated by the that in the box O being connectedto that in box O by a shake-bar 67, which can be made adjustable as inFigs. 1 and 52.

When the disks are to be actuated by hand, hand levers of the usual orany preferred construction are mounted upon the inner sides of thehoppcrs or boxes O, O', and connected with the shake-bar 67, as at O2.

The pawl carriers 64, joined as aforesaid by the shake-bar 67, may be ofany suitable sort. I have devised one with certain novel features whichI for some reasons prefer. formed with the parts 112, 113 and 120, thatat 112 being on the inside of the axis of the dropping disk, that aty113 being on the front side, and that at 120 on the rear side thereof.The parts 112 and 113 rest upon the aforesaid depressed parts p and q ofthe base-plate, the bar 113 passing under the elevated part fr o f saidplate, and the bar 120 passing under the elevated part s of said plate.The latter bar has an aperture at 130 for attaching. an Y operating rodwhen check-rowing, and there is a recess with shoulders c, lw, (see Fig.34)

It isv for actuating the seed tube valve. The pawls 65 and66 are pivotedat 131 and 132, there being such a looseness of attachment that thepawls can be lifted up at their free ends and turned around (see Figs.10, 11, 12, 41 and 42), and the parts at the bottom of the hopper beingshaped so that the pawls can be thrown out of their normal positionswithout striking any of said parts of the hopper. (See Figs. 10, 11 and12.)

The shake-bar 67 is applied eccentrically to the sliding pawlcarriers(see Figs. 1, 30 and 34); that is to say, the shake-bar is situated on aline away from the central transverse vertical plane of the seed box, sothat shafting and other mechanism for drilling can be situated in saidplane, as will be described below. The shake-bar being thus eccentric ortangential to the dropping disks, there is a cramping or binding of theslide or pawl carrier 64at certain points in its movement.4

This I overcome by the construction shown in Figs. 30 to'35. I employhorizontally mounted anti-friction rollers 1,16 and 117.* These can bearranged as desired. As shown, both are connected to the arm 113 'of theslide 64. They bear one forward against a guide at `133 on the baseplate 32 and the other rearward against a guide 134. When the slide 64is thrust outward there is no cramping as the pawl is on a direct linewith shake bar 67 but when it is'thrust in the other direction thecramping is produced which is relieved by wheels 116 and 117. 135 and136 (see Figs. 30 and 34) are steady pins secured to the slide which actto assist in h oldin g it properly.

By examining Figs. 30, and 34, and others it will be seen that theslide, considered as a whole, extends from a line insidel of the seedplate, that is, between the axis thereof and the center of the machine,to a line outside, and also extends from a line in front ofthe axis ofthe seed plate to a line in rear thereof; or in other words that theslide largely surrounds the axis of the seed plate; and it is because ofthis arrangement relative to this axis, that the anti-friction deviceslendassistance in its movement. Y I In Figs. 10 and 11 links 116 areshown instead of rollers but the rollers are superior for' some reasons.t

When the machine is to be used in checkrowing, I use the followingdevices or theirV equivalents in connection with those above described.

Referring to Figs. l, 12a, 23, and 23a, 69 is a rod-passing through theaforesaid hollow axle E2 of the ground wheels and pivotallyconnected at130 to said sliding pawl carrier 64. The outer end of thisrod 69 isadjustably connected tothe forked levers 70 and 71 which are operated bythe check-row wire. y

(seeFigs. 23, 12a, and 24) is a clamp adapted to be fastened wherevernecessary to rod 69, and this' clamp is pivoted, t9 a crank arm a?carried by a short shaft 74 mounted in 'a bearing b. This bearing issecured to a bar IOC IIO

25 which is supported at the rear end on the wheel axle and at the frontend on a bar 77 extending laterally out from one of the frame bars A.'lo the upper end of the short shaft 74, is secured the rear forkedlever 7l. The other forked lever is pivotally secured to said bar 125 ata point 73 farther forward.

72 is a link connecting the forked levers 70 and 71, it being pivotedinside of the pivot 73 to lever 70 and outside the pivot 74 of lever 7l;so that the levers are caused to move oppo stely, that is,eithertherends simultaneously approach, or simultaneously recede fromeach other. When they move, the bar 60 will be correspondingly moved inor out, and the pawl carrier 64. moved with it.

The movements of the forked levers 70 and 71 are caused by the check-rowwire 150, which is held and guided at the front by the parts shown inFigs. 1, 15, and 1b'.

76' is a bracket adjustably secu red to bar 77. See Figs. 1, 15, and 16.It extends up and out, and is provided with a downward and outwardturned linger 7S.

79 is a short bar pivoted to the upper end of bracket 76, and has an eyeSO for attaching a cord.

8l is a lever pivoted at S2 to bracket 76.

S3 is a pulley journalcd on lever Sl. There are one or more (preferablytwo) links S4.- pivoted to lever S1 and to the aforesaid bar 79. If bar79 be lifted,the pulley 83 will be turned to one or the other of thepositions shown in dotted lines, (Fig. 1G) which lifting can be done bythe operators hand or by the cord attached to eye SO, which extends toand has its end fastened to the drivers seat or some other convenientpoint.

)Vhcn the parts are in the normal position shown by full lines in Fig.1G, the check-row wire moves .through the passage at 121 between pulley83 and finger 78, and it cannot escape therefrom, as the pulley islocked in position, the pivot at 126 being below the pivots at 127 and12S; but when the parts are in the positions shown by the dotted linesin Fig. 1G, the wire can drop away; and when the pulley S3 is in itsuppermost position, it will remain there until purposely returned tothat shown in full lines, Fig. 16.

When the machine reaches the end of the row, the operator by cord orhand throws the pulley out and releases the wire. Then after the wirehas been re-introduced for the next row, the pulley can be readilydropped to hold it.

The parts just described and the forked levers 70 and 7l should beproperly adjusted in relation to each other. Said parts 70 and 7l havecertain peculiar features. As shown in Fig. 1, their outer ends are neareach other, having been brought into this position by the action of theball or knot 12E) which operated on the fork 70. rlhis ball or knot willnext immediately catch upon the fork 71, moving it back toward the rearof the machine. This not only thrusts the rod 69, pawl carrier 64:

and shake-bar G7 inward,but also throws the end of fork 70 toward thefront, ready to receive and be acted upon by the next knot or ball.Ordinarily, when these parts are used, the pawls 65 GG are turned aroundon their pivots, as shown in full lines in Figs. 10 and 1l so as to bein the line of engagement with the toothed dropping disks. Under sucharrange- 1nents,when the lever 70 is engaged byaball or knot 12!) on therope and moves backward, the rod G9, shake-bar G7 and pawl carrier (itwill impart no motion to the dropping disks, but the valves in the seedtubes will be raised. Then when the ball moves lever 7l and the rod 69,shake-bar 67 and pawl carrier 64C are moved in the opposite direction,the pawls 6G (having been left in normal position) will engage with oneof the teeth of the dropping disks and impart motion thereto,causing thedelivery of seed-that is to say, when rod G9 and the shake-bar move inone direction, both of the seed disks orwheels will move; but when saidrod and bar move in the opposite direction neither of the dropping diskswill move. When the forward fork 70 is worked bythe ball or knot thevalve in the seed tube will be opened to drop the seed to the ground,the dropping disk at that time, remaining stationary; but when the rearfork 7l is acted on by the ball, the dropping disk will be moved and acharge of seed will be delivered to the valve.

The rear fork 71 is so connected to the shakebar that it has its fullthrow, even it" the adjustment of the bar is not entirely accurate,because the throw of the fork is only limited by that of the shake-bar.

I so arrange the parts, that is, the wire holder at 7:5-83, and theforked levers 70 and 7l, and so connect the latter with the rod 69 thatthe pressure of the wire on the forks prevents the shake-bar fromrebounding, such Vrebounding being a serious difficulty experienced inthe use of planters as ordinarily constructed, unless special lockingdevices are added which entails extra expense.

I have confined the description mainly to the check-row devices on theright hand side of the machine in Fig.1,but it will be understood thatthe devices shown at theleft hand side of the machine in that figure aresimilarly arranged and operated.

When the dropping is to be effected by hand the check row devices remainin place and at such times both of the pawls on the pawl carrier canengage with their seed plate. In any case the dropping disk can have atooth for every seed aperture as in Fig. 9, instead of having one foreach alternate aperture as in Figs. 30 to 39.

Either one of the droppers can be thrown out of action independently ofthe other (as by turning the pawls, 65, 66 to an inactive p0- sition,disconnecting the shake bar 67, or otherwise), and if at any time it isdiscovered that a row, or a part thereof, has not been properly planted,one of the droppers can be IOO IIO

stopped, and its runner or furrow opener can 'ne elevated from theground, after which the faultily planted row or part thereof can bereplanted, and without danger of digging up the adjacent row.

The lifting mechanisms are independent of each other, and the runnerscorrespondingly independently adjustable vertically.

I have above referred to a valve in the seed tube. A valve of any oftheordinary forms can be employed; but I prefer one having the features ofimprovementJ Which I have herein shown, having more particular referenceto Figs. 25 to 29 inclusive. The valve proper is indicated by (Z. Itispivoted at e to. the lower end of the seed tubeI and is provided with aweightf which tends to keep it closed.

Vgais a mutilated gear-wheel pivoted on the seed tube, and it has aprojection h to which is secured a circular plate t' having a slot j.

7c is a rod connected at the lower end to valve cZand having its upperend fitted in the slotj in plate Z,- it preferably passing up behindsaid plate d and having its upper end bent outward to enter the slot.Preferably rod 7c' carries weightf.

Z is a lever pivoted at m t0 the rear side of tube I', and it has acurved rack n engaging with the teeth on wheel g3. The upper end Z ofthe lever Z'engages with the reciprocating pawl carrier 64, (see Figs.12, 34 and 36,) the said end Z being engaged by the shoulders w, fu, onthe part 120 of the said pawl carrier 64.

The teeth on wheelg3 and rack n are of such number, and the throw of thelever Z is of such length, that about one-half of a revolution isimparted to Wheel g3 and plate L at each movement of thelever. Figs. 25,26, and

27 show the relative positions of rod k and plate t' at the end of onemovement of lever Z, rod Za being at one end of slot j. Now when lever Zmakes its next movement, it will throw plate Z one-half way around, andwhile moving around it will draw up the rod 7c far enough to open thevalve d. At the end of the half revolution, the slotjwill be inverted,and rod lo will instantly drop to the end opposite to that shown inFigs. 25, 26'and 27, the valve suddenly closing under the action of theweight. Y

The wheel g3 is held in place on stud g4 by a ange on the lower end oflever Z (see Fig. 25) which flange lies between wheel g8 and plate t'.

Having thus described the mechanism which can be used for plantingintermittingly either by hand or by automatic cheek-row devices, I willnow setfforth the parts of the machine which can be brought into usewhen it is desired to drill; that is to say, to plant seed continuously.At such time, the dropping wheel or disk (shown in Fig. 39 or in Fig. 9)is removed, and, first, a bevel Wheel 37 in Fig. 12 is inserted, ithaving a hub with a circular aperture to fit the pintle 38, theperiphery of the hub being, however, square or angular in section. (SeeFig. 11.) Then a dropping wheel or disk with a square aperture (seeFigs. 8 and 10) is put in place, its aperture fitting the angular hub ofWheel 37. This wheel 37 engages with a vertical bevel Wheel 36 which isleft permanently in place in the machine and which is mounted on a shaft35 situated under the center of the .hub or box. The shaft is mounted ina bearing at 137 and 138.

On the outer end of the shaft there is a toothed wheel 34 adapted toengage with a wheel secured to the hub of the ground wheel E.

is a clutch lever pivoted to the frame and engaging with the hub ofwheel 34, the latter being splined to shaft 35 and adapted to be movedlongitudinally thereon by lever 85.

86 (Fig. 3) is a spring lock which holds lever 85 in the one or theother of its two ,positions, and therefore keeps wheel 34 as desiredeither in or out of engagement with Wheel 33. When in engagementtherewith, the'shaft 35 will be rotated, and with it the wheels 36 and37, and therefore the dropping plate 39. The above mentioned aperture109 in base plate 32 permits the bevel wheel 36 to project upward toengage with wheel 37, and the square wall at u provides a suitablebearing for the back of this wheel 36.

It will be understood that in the machines as made, the right hand sideof each is provided With devices similar to those just described,namely: with the wheels 33 and 34, 36 and 37,and with the shaft 35 andthe shifting lever 85.

Instead of two independent driving mechanisms 33, 34, use may be made ofa shaft, as at 35, long enough to extend from one seed box to the otherand provided with two bevel wheels like that at 36; but for somepurposes I prefer to have two sets of actuating devices ICO interposedbetween the drive wheels and the seed plates.

The manner of operating these drilling devices will be readilyunderstood.

The pawls 65, 66 on both sides of the machine are turned around asinFigs. 10 and 11, (full lines,) the pawl slide '64 and the shakebar 67,at this time being idle. The dropping disk 39 is placed upon the squarehub 38 of wheel 37; and driving wheel 34 is shifted out into engagementwith wheel 33. Thereupon (the machine being in motion) the droppingdisks will be continuously rotated, delivering rapidly their charges ofseeds to the tubes 108 and I.

)Vhen cotton or similar materials are to be IIO planted, substantiallythe same partstare used ashave just been described, but with v ries ofarms 57, 58, those at 58 being some.

It is rowhat longer than those at 57. For convenenee of insertion anddetachment, these arms 57, 58 are carried by a sleeve 56 through whichthe shaft 55 can be passed, and to which it can be secured by means ofset screws. The arms 57 58 are rotated vertically with the shaft 55 andact as stirrers to agitate the cotton seed and cause it to move downwardtoward the bottom. Then to cause stillfnrther agitation of the seed, Iemploy an oscillating agitator consisting' of horizontally moving arms48,48 secured to a hub 49 which is journaled in the center of the bottomplate 40 of the hopper. These arms move above the curvilinear slot oropening in the bottom plate 40 which is above the apertures in the seedwheel. The oscillating motion is imparted to the agitators 48, 49 bymeans of the longer arms 58 carried by sleeve 5G on shaft 55, these armsbeing of such length that they can engage with one or another of thehorizontal arms 48. As the arms 58 rotate, that at the left hand (seeFig. 4) first strikes one of those at 48 and moves the horizontalagitators to the right. Then at some time during the remainder of therevolution of shaft 55, the right hand arm 58 strikes one of the arms 48and throws the horizontal agitator to the left. In this way a completeoscillation is given to the horizontal agitator at every revolution ofthe shaft 55.

To prevent backward rotation of the shaft 55, Fig. 4Icombine with itabacking ratchet for connecting it and its wheel 54, the same comprisingthe pin (50, the teeth at 59, and the spring Gl.

Vhle these devices for agitating the seed are in operation, the droppingdisk is being si inullaneously operated bythe parts indicated by 35, 36and 37, the same as when corn is being drilled.

The dropping disk for planting cotton seed may have circular apertures,as shown in Figs. 4,10 and 1:2, or it may have oblong apertures as shownin Fig. 8, the latter being preferable for this seed.

Then the machine is used for drilling corn or other seed, the abovedescribed adjustment of the seeding mechanism relatively to the groundwheels is still attainable. The shaft 35 is splined or grooved to permitthe wheel 36 to be put in either of several positions, the wheel 34remaining in its normal position as to wheel 33,subject to its clutch.The agitator mechanism, it in use, is similarly provided for, as thelsleeve 56 permits the box to be moved in or out without requiring thatwheel 34 shall be changed in its relation to the driving gear. The idlerwheel is carried by the arm 53 stationary on the frame.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 I have shown the eutolt and discharge device orejector which I have dcvisedand which can be used to advantage inplantingr seed of any sort, particularly cotton seed. The object is toget a quick and assured passage ot' the seed from the aperturessuccessively in the dropping plate.

47 (see Figs. 5 and 7) indicates a chamber whose walls are east with thebottom plate 40. In the lower end ot' this chamber there is placed adischarger or ejector 43 formed of Aa piece of metal preferably somewhatpointed at the lower end, as at 45. It is prevented from escapingentirely from the chamber by means of pins or stops 44, (sec Fig. (5)secured to said walls.

4G is a spring in chamber 47 bearing upward against the top thereof anddownward against the discharge device 43. The projecting end 45 'ot' thedischarge device is adapted to enter the seed apertures in the Idropping disk. As the seed disk revolves, the bars of metal between theapertures will successively throw the discharge device up against thespring, and as soon as the aperture has got fully beneath it said springwill force or snap it downward, and the point 45 will drive out the seedfrom the aperture, so

that all sticking and clogging thereofare ovei-,

come.

By examining Figs. 17 and 6, it will be seen that there are supplementalto the snapping ejector, spring actuated eut oft devices overhanging theseed plate for insuring that no seed shall be adjacent to the aperturesto interfere with the proper action of the ejector, and to insure thatno grain shall be broken either in passing under the cut oil, or fromthe blow of the ejector.

The shaft 55 extends beyond the seed box toward the center of themachine so that said box can be adjusted, as above provided for (bychanging the bolts in the apertures (t a') and yet allow the wheel 54 toremain in line with the wheels 33, 34, and 52.

I have, in Fig. l, shown the agitators and the parts which operate themas being applied only to one side ol" the machine, but it will beunderstood that the other seed box is also furnished with the samemechanism.

Means foi-covering the seed are required in whichever of the aboveseveral ways the seed is delivered to the ground. I have shown acovering wheel 87 and two ways of mounting and attachingr it, one beingillustrated at the left side of Fig. l, and the other at the right sideol Fig. l and in Fig. 47, the wheel itself being shown detached in Figs.19, 20 and 21.

The wheel is made in two parts, the outer faces of the periphery ofwhich are inclined or concaved and separated at their inner edges. Thetwo parts 89 and 00 are connected together by inward extendingprojections 144 and bolts 145, there being studs between saidprojections, vrhich studs can be longer or shorter so as to vary thedistance between them as may be desired. A covering wheel ot' this formis very desirable. It

forces down the earth at both sides of the seed and imparts suilicientpressure there to the earth, but as it is open at the center it IOO IIO

ige

l 537,261 fr;

does not press or compact the soil directly above the seed, andtherefore the latter has a better opportunity to grow. Y

I will first describe the mounting for the covering wheels shown at theleft of Figs. 1 and 3 in connection with Figs. 13 and 14.V

91 is a frame or wheel carrier hinged to the main frame by ears 146 onbase plate 32 and composed of two pieces or bars extending back and downfrom the hinges. 92, is a block between said bars 91 and held'by a bolt.

93 is a bent wire which passes around the block 92.

94, 94 are two rods hinged at their lower ends to the above describedheel extensions .I of the casting G. Their upper ends are bent over andenter grooves in the under side of block 92 (see Fig. 13), and when therunner F is raised the covering wheel will be raised by the rods 94.

95, is a coiled spring the lower end of whichv engages with hooks on thelower ends of the Wire or rod 93, and its upper end is engaged by hooksat the upper ends of the rods 94. See Fig. 14. This spring allows theframe which carries the covering wheel to yield, but holds the coveringwheel upon the ground with some pressure. On the bent wire 93, there isan adjustable clamp 102, (see Figs. 3 and 14) for the purpose ofadjusting the tension of the spring 95. Thus I provide a connectionbetween the runner and the covering wheel which is rigid when the formeris elevated, but which is flexible as concerns the relative dropping ofthe Wheel. At the right hand of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 47 I have shown aform of mounting and attachment for the covering wheel which I prefer.In this case the wheel proper and the parts at 94, 95 and 102 aresubstantially similar to those above described, but in order to have thecovering wheel swiveled or supported in the manner of a caster Wheel, Iform the frame 91, in such way as to have a pivotal or hinged portion at140, and combine therewith a yoke frame having the arms 141 extendingback, the arms 142 extending forward and down somewhat, and the hingedsocket 143 extending upward.- A block 92 and an adjustable stop 102similar to those above described are connected to the arms 141 for theattachment of the spring. The arms 142 are pivoted to the frame. Thesocket part 143 receives the spindle part 140 of the covering Wheelframe. The rods 94 are secured to the casting G in the way abovedescribed.

lVith this construction it will be seen that I not only get the sameflexibility of motion as concerns movements around a horizontal axis,but also get flexibility around a vertical or substantially verticalaxis, so that the caster Wheel can more readily adapt itself to all ofthe motions of the machine.

In advance of the runner F there is placed a ground opening shovel 96.It is secured to a beam 97 which extends forward somewhat and carries agage wheel 100. The beam'97 is supported by a brace rod 99 looselyconnected to the frame and by the push rod 98 which extends backward andis pivoted to some fixed part ofthe machine. The object of this shovelis to open a furrow ready for the runner. The gage wheel 100 isadjustably mounted in a tubular holder (see Fig. 3) which can be clampedin any desired vertical position.

The heel of each runneris inclined, as shown at 101, which form is verydesirable and aids in keeping the heel free from the accumulation ofdirt.

In Figs. 48, 49, 50 and 5l, I have shown the improved ball, knot orjoint which I have devised for securing together the ends of theadjacent sections of wire used in check rowing. The object is, toprovide better joining devices for the wire sections than those withwhich I have had experience, and at the same time have it adapted to actefficiently in tripping the levers of the check rowing. It is indicatedas a whole by 129. At Z2 there is an aperture through it and throughwhich the wires can be inserted when joining them. On one side of thisaperture there is a relatively short neck at g2, that is one ot' alength substantially equal to the thickness of the wire. This neck, insection, is elongated or angular as shown in Fig. 49 so that the eye ofthe wire which is fastened to it cannot turn around. At g3 there areshouldersprojections, or stops which engage with the Wireeye and preventit from oscillating relatively to the joint piece. On that side of theapertureopposite to the neck q2 there is another indicated by p2. Thelatter is longer, that is of a greater length than the thickness of thewire, so that the eye of the latter can oscillate, as shown in Fig. 49.It is less elongated in section than the other, preferably approximatinga circle (see Fig. 50),so that it can oscillate in the other directionas shown. Stops or shoulders p3 and qs are produced by making the parts'm2, lm2, intermediate of the necks thicker or wider throughout than thenecks p2, q2. A ball or joint of this sort is of superior nature forwhile it allows all the necessary flexibility, it prevents the wiresections from kinking either on the reel or on the ground, and the wirepasses smoothly to the check row levers no matter how it may he twisted,the ball or joint being of such character as to insure that the Wiresections shall be in line when they reach the levers '70 and 71.

To understand the novel feature of construction and arrangement of themain parts of the machine, it'will be remembered that heretoforeplanters of this class have been constructed on one or another ofthefollowing plans: Generally they have comprised two separate frames'hinged together, one being IOO IIO

the wheel frame, andthe other a runner frame of the front frame, aud atthe front edge of the rear frame; and, secondly, those having thetrainee arranged to more or less overlap, that is, having the hinge linesomewhat in advance of the rear edge of the trame which carries therunners, the seed boxes, the.; but in vboth eases the frames are to beregarded as distinct and separate, and the movements of the one at onetime or another in the use of the machine depend upon the movements oli'the other.

Another class et planters include those of which each has awheel frame,that is a frame mounted directly upon and vibrating about the axis ofthe ground wheels, and a separate frame for the boxes, seed deliveringdevices and runners, the., the last said frame being arranged to slidevertically upon the wheel frame, and carry up and down the seed boxes,runners, check row devices, and all the plant ing parts.

There are serious disadvantages well known to he incident to planters ofeach of these classes, which I have overcome. I have practically but asingle frame which is so mounted on the wheels as to be a wheel frame,that is one which is supported directly ou the axle or axles ofthewheels, and vibrates around the same, so as to carry the parts properlyin relation to each other and to the ground notwithstanding thevariation of the surface constantly met with. The boxes and thedelivering mechanism are secured rigidly to this frame while the runnersare vertically adjustable relatively to them. The check row devices arestationarily fastened to suhstantially the same frame as that whichcarries the seed delivering mechanism, and therefore they are alwaysheld in proper relation to it. In the earlier machine having thevertieally sliding frames for the boxes, seed devices, the check rowdevices, were also arranged so as to be thrown up and down with therunners, and this I avoid.

As concerns the wheelsand their means ot' mounting, it will be seen thatthe wheels are virtually open at the center, and that open wheels ofother forms can be used. In the Patent No. 425,36; to L. B. Berrien,dated April S, 1890, there are shown wheels which are open at thecenter, and also a planter frame, and a wheel frame somewhat differentfrom that herein shown; butmany of the features herein shown anddescribed can be embodied in a machine of the sort therein illustrated,and, vice versa, more or less ofthe parts herein can be arranged as istherein provided lor without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. However I do not mean that all of the features of the presentinvention are dependent on the fact that the ground wheels are open atthe center, for that is not the case, as many of them can be preservedeven if use be made of the ordinary wheels, and solid spindles. Thus thewheel frame and a frame rigid therewith for the check row devices, canbe used and so arranged as to carry the seed receptacles, and the seeddelivering mechanisms in the transverse planes of the ground wheels, (asis herein provided for) without requiring the hollow spindles orcentrally open wheels, although the wheels and spindles of those sortsare advantageous because of the convenient manner possible of eonnectingthe check rowing devices and the delivering mechanism.

The spindles above described are virtually a part of the wheel frame,that is to say with the wheels there is combined a frame, when made asshown, which passes through the wheels and supports a part of theplanter mechanism on the outside and a part of the same on the inside.The cheek row levers, or other parts could be supported on a solidspindle at points adjacent to the wheel and attain some of the endsaimed at; or the frame for the check row devices can be earried aroundthe wheel, that is can be supported at the rear by a bar or equivalentsecured to the main frame, the same as the present bar at the front.

The seed boxes in the present machine are adjustable toward and from theground wheels notwithstanding the fact that the power transmittingdevices are actuated by the said wheels.

I have above described the manner of using the machine, first, whenplanting intermittingly by hand; second, when planting intermittingly bycheck row devices; third, when planting continuously by the drillingdevices, and, fourth, when planting such seed as cotton bythecontinuously rotating drill devices, in connection with the agitators,both verticalvand horizontal; butit will be understood that the severalparts constituting the machine, as a whole, can be arranged to operatein several other ways. Thus cotton, or other seed, can he delivered fromthe boxes, by means of the intermittingly acting dropping devices,including the pawls, the toothed dropping disk, the shake bar, dsc., atwhich times the agitators will be also used. In such cases substantiallythe Whole machine will be in operation, and the check row devices can beused or not as occasion dictates. Again, itA will be seen that when theeontinuously rotating parts are used, (including the bevel wheels whichactuate the dropper plate, and the agitating devices,) for the deliveryof the seed to the tube, the reciprocating devices can be simultaneouslyused, either by hand or by the check row mechanism, for operating thevalve in the seed tube. Therefore, I wish it understood that although amachine of this character presents parts which can be interchangeablyused for several purposes, yet it is also one in which substantially allthe parts can when desired. be caused to c9- act; and it will be alsounderstood that the agitating devices can be employed with corn or seedother than cotton as may be found necessary.

W represents the scraper for the covering IOO effectually remove by thescraper.

a point inside of the outer edges of the twov daring or inwardlydepressed peripheral parts, and when these parts'are separated, asherein provided for, this scraper is carried to a point somewhat insideof the inner edges As a result of of the said peripheral parts. thisarrangement all of the mud orearth which is inside of the inner edges isseparated from that on the outside of the edges, that is, the part whichis in the recess or cavity between the daring surfaces, as well as thatwhich may adhere to the outer sides of the periphery, and-after beingthus separated drops off, and that outside of said edges is pressed offby the wheel on the ground. As

shown it is supported by a frame or carrier W which is fastened to theframe or carrier that supports the wheel. When the covering wheel ismounted on a caster arm as in Figs. l and 47, this scraper is preferablycarried by said caster arm so as to always be in proper relation to thewheel.

The scraper may be situated radially but it is much better to have itarranged tangentially in relation to the wheel, that is, on a tangent toa circle around the axis of the wheel.

The scraper proper is adjustable on its carrier, by means of a bolt wand a slot or ap-V erture w. f

I do not limit myself to having all of these details of construction andarrangement as for instance, projecting the scraper to a point inside ofthe peripheral rims, to making it in one piece, or .to having itadjustable in the way described, dac., as there can be variations inthese respects.

I claim- 1. In a corn planter, the combination of the two ground wheels,the frame supported thereon, the two seed carrying and deliveringdevices on said frame and situated between the front edges and the rearedges of said wheels, and adjustable toward and from them, seed tubessecured rigidly to and adjustable laterally with the seed carryingdevices, and the runners adjustable horizontally with the tubes and seeddevices and adjustable verticallyindependently thereof and of eachother, substantially as set forth.

2. In a corn planter, the combination of the ground wheels, the framemounted ou said wheels, the seed boxes rigidly secured thereto, the seedtubes rigidly connected with the seed boxes, the runners or furrowopeners adapted to move vertically independently of the seed tubes andboxes, and means on said frame for adjusting the runners verticallyindependently of the seed tubes and of each other, all of said partsbeing arranged substantially as set forth to be supported on the groundwheels.

3. The combination with the ground wheels, the frame supported thereon,the draft devices secured thereto, and the seed boXes, the seeddelivering devices, and the check row mechanism all stationary on saidframe, of two independent lifting devices for the runners, and meanssupplemental to the ground wheels for covering the seed, substantiallyas set forth.

4. The combination with the two ground wheels, the frame supportedthereon, the seed box between the wheels, the seed tube stationary onthe frame and formed with a stationaryguide, of a runner fitted to saidguide and vertically adjustable independently of the tube and seedingdevices, and the seed covering device connected to the runner andadapted to be pushed up thereby, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the two wheels, the frame supported thereon, thetongue rigidly secured thereto, the seed carrying and deliveringdevices, secured to the frame, and tne check row mechanism stationaryrelative to the frame and the seed delivering devices, and the .runnersvertically adjustable independently of the check row mechanism,substantially as set forth.

G; In a corn planter of the Acharacter described the combination withthe main frame, the supporting wheels, the draft devices connected tothe frame, and the two sets of planting devices, each having a seed box,a drop` per adapted to be thrown out of action, a vertically adjustablerunner or furrow opener, and a covering device, of the two independentlifting devices each connected to one of the said runners,'whereby thelatter can be independently adj usted, substantially as set forth.

7. In a check row planter, the combination with the two ground wheels,the frame thereon,

and the two sets of planting devices on saidV frame, each having a seedreceptacle an intermittingly acting dropper, a vertically adjustablerunner or furrow opener, and covering devices, of the two independentlifting mechanisms, each connected with one of the runners, and thecheck row mechanism mounted on said frame, substantially as set forth.

8. In a planter, the combination of the two ground wheels, the framesupported thereon, the draftrdevices secured to the frame, the seedingmechanisms each having a vertically adjustable runner, and two slideguides for each runner, whereby it is held in parallelism in its severalpositions, with respect to the seed tube, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of the two ground wheels, the frame supportedthereon, the draft devices secured to the frame, the seeding devices onsaid frame, the seed tubes, the runners, each having. a slide guideadjacent to IOO to the rear slide guides aforesaid, siibstantially asset forth.

10. The combination with the main frame, the seeding mechanism thereon,and the vertically adjustable runner, of the vertical slide guide forthe rear end of the runner, the vertical slide guide for the front endthereof, the lifting lever, and means connecting said lever to therunner at a point between the two slide guides, substantially as setforth.

l1. The combination with the centrally open wheels, the plantingmechanism, and the actuating devices for said mechanism, of theframework having a part thereof extending through the said wheels whichsupports the planting mechanism on the inside of said wheels, and theactuating devices on the outside, substantially as set forth.

19. In aplanter, the combination ofa ground wheel open at the center, aseed delivering mechanism, and devices independent of the wheel foractuating said seed delivering mechanisin passing through said wheel,substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of the wheel open at the center, the seed carryingand delivering devices on one side of the wheel, a primary actuatingmechanism on the other side of the wheel for actuating said seeddelivering de vices, and connecting devices passing through the wheel,substantially as set forth.

let. The combination with the ground wheel, of the seed receptacle anddelivering mechair ism on one side of said ground wl1eel,ai:idthedevices for actuating the delivering mechanism situated on the oppositeside of the ground wheel and supported upon the axle or hub thereof, andmeans connecting the saine to the said delivering mechanism and passingthrough said wheel, substantially set forth.

l5. The combination of the frame having a laterally projectingliollowspindle, the ground wheel mounted on said spindle,the plantingmechanism on one side ofthe ground Wheel, the clieckrow devices on theother side of said wheel, and means passing through said hollow spindlefor connecting the check row devices to the planting mechanism,substantially as set forth.

16. The combination with the frame, the planting mechanism, and theground wheel, of a hollow axle or spindle E2 for said wheel, the rod(it) in said spindle, the bar oi' frame 125, and the cheek row devicessupported thereon and adjustably connected to rod 69, substantially asset forth.

17. The combination of the ground wheels, the wheel frame stationaryrelatively to the axis of the ground wheels,the toiigueordraft framerigidly secured thereto, the seed delivering devices, the runnersmovable vertically independently "of the seeding devices, thereciprocating check row mechanism outside of the ground wheel andcarried by a support which is rigid relatively to said wheel frame, andis between the front and the rear edges of the said wheels,substantially as set forth.

1S. The combination of the wheels, the frame supported thereonstationarily relatively to the axis thereof, the seed boxes anddelivering tubes supported rigidly on said Wheel frame, the runnersmovable vertically independently of the seed boxes and delivering tubes,the check row devices on that side of the wheels opposite to the seedboxes and the delivering mechanism, and the support for said check rowdevices rigid with the frame which supports said boxes and locatedwithin the circumference of the wheels, substantially as set forth.

19. The combination of the open ground wheels, the seed receptacles, andseed delivering mechanisms situated between the front edges and the rearedges of the wheels,a connecting and powertransinitting bar, as at G7,and the outwardly and oppositely projecting bars or rods connected tothe said deliver ingr mechanisms and extending through said wheels topoints outside of tliegrouiid wheels, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination of the frame, the two laterally adjustable seeddelivering iiiecliauisms, the laterally reciprocating power transmittingmeans, as at 69, connected therewith, and the check row devicesconnected to the said parts (59 for reciprocating them, substantially asset forth.

2l. In a corn planter, the combination with the dropping disk or plate,and the pawls, or equivalent, for engaging therewith to actuate it, ofthe slide connected to said pawls, and the horizontally revolvinganti-frictioii wheels or rollers for said slide, as set forth.

22. The combination withthe dropping disk or plate, and the pawls,orcquivalent, for engaging therewith, of the slide for carrying saidpawls, said slide extending from the inner to the outer side of the axisof the seed plate, and the horizontal anti-friction wheels or rollers,one inside of said axis, and one outside thereof, substantially as setforth.

23. Thecombinatioii with tliedroppingdisk or plate, and the pawls, orequivalent, engaging therewith, of the slide extending from the front tothe rear of the axis of the seed plate and from the inner side to theouter side thereof, and the horizontally turning anti-friction wheels orrollers, supported on d itferent axes, substantially as set forth.

2l. A planter mechanism havinga seed rcceptacle adapted to receive arotating seed dropping disk or wheel, mechanism for iinparting auintermitting rotary movement to a dropping disk, such as aforesaid, andmechanism driven by the ground wheel adapted to impart a continuousmotion to a dropping disk or wheel, such as aforesaid, substantially asset forth.

25. A planter having a seed receptacle, and the base therefor providedwith a support, as at t, for a rotary dropping disk or wheel,reciprocating pawls adjacent to said support for imparting interinittiugrotary motion to a wheel oi' disk, such as aforesaid, a shaft, as

IOC)

IIO

at 35, on a line below said support and provided with a gear wheel, asat 36, adapted to continuously rotate a dropping disk, such asaforesaid, and means for continuously rotatingl said shaft,substantially as set forth.

. tionary lifting lever for said vertically adj ustable runner, and theconnecting devices for the lever adapted to be lengthened or shortened,substantially as set forth.

28. The combination with the frame, of the laterally adjustable runnerwhich can be lifty ed relatively to the ground, the rock shaft connectedtherewith, and the lifting lever adapted to be connected to said rockshaft at one or another of several points, substantially as set forth.

29. The combination of the frame, the two laterally and verticallyadjustable runners thereon, the separate rock shafts, L, L', connectedto the said runners, the separate levers, N, N', and the adjustableconnecting devices, asat M, 24, 25, substantially as set forth 30. Thecombination with the vertically adjustable runners, and the levers, ofthe guide 29 having the adjustable catch, as at N2, securedthereto,substantially as set forth.

3l. In a planter, a covering wheel, in combination with atwo-partcarrier or support therefor, of which parts one is united by ahorizontal pivot to the planting mechanism or frame and is hinged totheother by a vertical or inclined pivot, substantially as set forth.

32. YA covering wheel formed in two separable sections, respectivelyhaving the peripheral parts, 89, 90, inclined to each other and with acentral open space at their inner edges, and having the inward extendingprojections 144 to receive the joining devices, substantially as setforth, j

33. A covering wheel having a hub or shaft attachment, a rim formed intwo separated parts with inward extending projections joined together atpoints between the rimand the hub, substantially as set forth. l

34. The combination with the runner or ground opener, and the gagedevice in front of the runner, of the beam or frame therefor' projectingforward from the frame which carries the runner, and one or more lateralbraces, as at 99, substantially as set forth.

35. In a Wire-holder for a planter, the combination of a guide, as at7S, on one side vertically of the wire path, a guide, as at 83, on theother side, and below said path, and links, as at 79, 84, pivotallyconnected to the last said guide and to each other, substantially as setforth.

36. In a wire-holder for a planter, the combination with the castinghaving the downward and outward extending projection, 78, and an outwardextending projection above it, of' the movable guide 83, the lever 8l,the links 79 and 84 pivoted to each other,and one pivoted to lever 81.,andthe other to said casting, substantially as set forth.

37. The combination with the seed tube, and the valve, of meanssubstantially as described for opening the valve, and intermittinglydetachable therefrom, and a weight or equivalent supplemental to thesaid means for closing it, substantially as set forth.

38. The combination with the seed tube, and the valve, of the vibratinglever l, and the longitudinally lnoving rod la', for opening the valve,the rod being movable with lever andv also independentlythereof,substantially as set forth.

39. The combination with the seed tube, and its valve, of the rod orequivalent connected to the valve, the valve opening plate having twostops or points of engagement with said rod, andl a weight for carryingsaid rod from one to the other of said points of engagement,substantially as set forth.

40. The combination` with the valve for the seed passage, of the rotaryslotted plate, connecting means between the valve and said plate, andengaging loosely with it in the slot, and the vibrating rack engagingwith the rotaryslotted plate, substantially as set forth.

4l. The combination with the valve for the seed passage, of rod, k',slotted plate, t', carrying teeth g3, and rack 'n' mounted upon a pivot,substantially as set forth.

42. The combination with the feed box or seed receptacle, and thecontinuously rotating seed plate therein, of the horizontally movingagitator arms mounted independent of the said plate, and the means foractuating said arms, substantially as set forth.

43. The combination with the feed box or seed receptacle, of therotating seed plate therein, the agitator having a hub rotating on theaxis of the seed plate, but independently thereof, and a series ofhorizontally moving arms projecting therefrom, and means for actuatingsaid hub and arms, substantially as set forth.

44. The combination with the box or seed receptacle, and thehorizontally rotating delivering or dropping plate at the bottomthereof, of the agitator mounted atthe axis of the said dropping plateand movable horizontally around said axis and independently of theplate, substantially as set forth.

45. In a planter seed box or receptacle, the

lcombination with the rotatory seed plate, and

the horizontally oscillating arms, of the vertically rotating agitatorarms above them, substantially as set forth.

46. The combination with the rotatory seed plate, and the agitatormoving independently IOO IIO

